Keywords
Plato
daimonion
the Delphic oracle
How to Cite
Abstract
The aim of the present paper is to discuss Socrates’ idea of philosophy as
a service to the god. First the article investigates why Chaerephon went
to Delphi and why he asked Pythia the famous question concerning
Socrates. The investigation provides a basis for distinguishing two major
periods in his activity. The one preceding the Delphic oracle consists in
conducting inquiries in a group of closest friends. The one following the
Delphic oracle consist in addressing a much larger audience. An analysis
of both periods suggests that the oracle from Delphi greatly affected
Socrates’ relations with other Athenians. While the present article deals
also with the issue of Socrates’ daimonion, it hypothesizes that the voice
of daimonion and the voice of Pythia could be regarded as Apollo’s
interventions.
References
Brickhouse, T.C., Smith, N.D., 1990, Socrates on Trial, New Jersey.
Colaiaco, J.A., 2001, Socrates against Athens. Philosophy on Trial, New York-London.
Fontenrose, J.E., 1978, The Delphic Oracle, Berkeley.
Guthrie, W.K.C., 2000, Socrates, tłum. K Łapiński, S. Żuławski, Warszawa.
Montuori, M., 1981, Socrates: physiology of a myth, Amsterdam.
Oświecimski, S., 1989, Zeus daje tylko znak, Apollo wieszczy osobiście, Wrocław.
Plato, Laches and Charmides, transl. R.K. Sprague, Indianapolis 1992.
Plato, Theaetetus, transl. S. Benardete, Chicago 1986.
Pycka, W., 2009, The Socratic Philosophy Under the Sign of a Daimonion, Lublin.
Reeve, C.D.C., 1989, Socrates in the Apology, Indianapolis.
Stokes, M.C., 1992, “Socrates’ Mission”, [in:] B.S. Gower, M.C. Stokes (eds.), Socratic Questions: New Essays on the Philosophy of Socrates and Its Significance, London-New York, pp. 26-81.
Taylor, A.E., 1953, Socrates: the man and his thought, New York.
West, T.G., West, G.S., 1989, Four Texts on Socrates, Ithaca-New York.
License
Peitho provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.